Refugees in limbo as PNG orders closure of Australia’s camp
SYDNEY — Australia’s hardline immigration policy was thrown into turmoil on Wednesday after Papua New Guinea ordered a processing camp to close, leaving the fate of hundreds of asylum-seekers hanging in the balance.
The move to shutter the Australian-funded Manus island facility follows a Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday that detaining people there was unconstitutional and illegal.
Piling further pressure on Canberra, just weeks out from an expected election campaign, an Iranian refugee set himself on fire during a visit by UN officials to Nauru, the other Pacific nation where Australia sends boatpeople.
Four others on the tiny outpost reportedly attempted suicide by drinking washing powder on Tuesday.
“Respecting this (court) ruling, Papua New Guinea will immediately ask the Australian government to make alternative arrangements for the asylum-seekers currently held at the Regional Processing Centre,” Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said of the Manus camp.
Papua New Guinea’s former opposition leader Belden Namah had challenged the Manus arrangement in court.
The Supreme Court found that detaining them on the island was “contrary to their constitutional right of personal liberty”.
Despite this, Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton remained adamant that none of the 850 or so men held there would come to his country and that the government’s policy designed to deter others wanting to make the risky journey would not change.
“We want to see people off Manus and off Nauru, but they won’t be coming to Australia,” he told national radio ahead of
Australia rules out change in stance
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court ruled that the Australian-funded Manus island facility was unconstitutional and illegal.
> PNG’s former opposition had challenged the Manus arrangement in court.
> The court said that detaining asylum seekers on the island was contrary to their constitutional right of personal liberty. > An Australian minister however says that none of the 850 or so people held at the facility would come to Australia. > Canberra currently is trying to negotiate deals with Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines to tackle the migrants issue.
O’Neill’s decision.
“The government’s been very clear and consistent in that message... we’ll work with PNG and provide what support is needed to them to help people return to their country of origin or to a third country.”
Canberra currently has an arrangement with Cambodia, along with Papua New Guinea, to resettle those found to be refugees, although only a handful have taken up the option.
Australian media have reported that it is also trying to negotiate deals with Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
The court ruled that Australia and Papua New Guinea must “take all steps necessary to cease and prevent” the continued detention of asylum-seekers and transferees on Manus.